Occupant propelled roundabout



May 12, 1953' B. E. NORVELL OCCUPANT PROPELLER ROUNDABOUT Filed Aug. 16, 1947 INVENTOR.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATE si PATENT OFFICE.

2,638,345 OGGUPA'NT' PRGPE-LLED- ROUNDA-BGUT m Benjamin EiNGrVeIL OakGreek; Ariz;

Application August 16; 1947', Serial No. 768,998

surface depending on the" adjustments of the device;

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement and-exercising device with mechanisin and carrying units soconstructed that the occupantsthereof may dispose carrying unit e1e-- ments to contact a surface in controlled and varying degrees, and cause rotating motion of the" device", the degree of surface contact depending on the adjustments of the device;

A- further object of the invention is to pro-- vide an amusement and exercising" device with mechanism and carryingunits' constructed; so that the occupants thereof may disposecarrying unit elements" to' make and break contact with a surface in controlled and varying degrees andcause rotating motion of the device; the occupants degree of effort in causing carrying unitelements tobreak contact with the surface, d8 pending on theadjustments of the device.

Another object of the invention, in addition to the heretofore named objects; is to provide a raised construct-ion; sothat' the carrying units may-rise in flight upon contact with said raised construction.

Stilt another-object of the invention, in addition to the heretofore named objects, is to provideascaled surface so' that all measured adjustments may be accurately set.

Other objects will appear as the detailed description is" set forth. y

In the drawings,

Figure 1 isa" perspective view showing'carryingunit' contact.

Figure Zis an enlarged fragmentary side ele-' vational view-"of" the inner' portion of the device shown in Figure 1'.

Figure is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the adjustable mechanism taken on the line- 3--3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the innerportion.

As shown in the drawing, there is a base I' having a vertical" supporting standard 2 fastened thereto;- A' horizontal, stationary, circular plate 3 isfastened tothe topof thesupporting-stanm ard horizontal; rotatable-circular plate 4 is to provide an' is located above the stationary circular plate The rotatable circular plate t rests on a' bearingrace 5". A stationary vertical bolt '6 extends 1 upwardly from the top center of'the supporting standard- 2 and stationary plate 3'. Thebolt 5" I extends through a center hole in therotatableplate Q.

threaded and there is a threaded nut I screwed thereon. A cotter key 9* passes through a hole in the-bolt ii in order to-keep thenut i in place.

The rotatable plate 4 supports-radial arms-Khaning scales tile thereon. fhe inner endsof; the radial arms 8' are swingingl'y hi'nged touprights lt on the rotatable plate 4' and diametricall'y'op posed adjacent thecenter hole of rotatable plate 4. Longitudinal slots lioa in the radial arms 8 adjacent the hinged ends thereot extend out 1 wardly'. Thereare corresponding longitudihal slots Iilb in the rotatable plate 41 Slid'ably mounted in: the longitudinal: slots lfla' and lflb between. the: radial arms 8- and rotatable; plate: l are:compressionsprings. H A. clamping mem her. [2 at. the upper portion'of tl'idGUlnPl'fiSSiOI-Ii spring II is for holding the compression-spring H in place after anadju'stmenthas been: made.

The compression spring lit extends. downward 7 through. the. longitudinal: slotl 0b of the rotatable? piatev 4?. The end M of thecompressionspringi I: underneath rotatable plate 4" is fl'ared to proslot. [011.

In Figure 1 an element of the carrying unit contacts the surface instead of lower limbs of the occupant. i 5 is attached adjacent the ends thereof to a hobby horse. I 6 Fastened' underneath" the" hobby horse thisawv-erticai fork ll. A wheel l8 having a crank l9 and pedals Ziiis rotatablymount'edf adjacent-the lowerendof fork. l t. Adjacent the" neck of the hobby horse 6 is a hand grip 2t. Thereis' a'eonvex riser 22'- located ona track-2 3 inthe. path ofthewheel Iii when thehobby-hor'se" fore, it can be seen that when'compression spring l I is moved outwardly; the occupant experiencesa lighter surface touch of the wheel I8 and" whencompression spring H is" moved inwardly; the-occupant experiences} a heavier surface touch I It is obvious that the rise in of the wheel l8". flight 'when the wheerl8 contactsriser- 22 it The upper portionof the bolt 6 is vent compression spring It from coming loose from slidable engagement with longitudinal" Therefore, in Figure 1, element increased or decreased in accordance with the setting of the compression spring II.

An operator may make adjustment of compression spring II by lifting radial arm 8 upwardly with one hand and by sliding the compression spring H to the position desired with the other hand and then screwing down clamping member l2. When the device is operated by two operators, one could hold up radial arm 8 while the other makes adjustment. Obviously, the units are pulled downward for occupancy.

For semi-helpless paralysis victims, as well as convalescents who have progressed considerably towards recovery, the device shown in Figure 1 is of special benefit for exercise of the lower limbs, either with or without the wheel element contact. Beneficial results may be accomplished when the wheel elements make contact with a surface instead of the occupants lower limbs. On the other hand, when the wheel elements and attachments have been removed, a doctor, nurse, or attendant may set the compression spring means at a predetermined position along the graduated surface [c of the radial extending member, so that when the unit is occupied, the occupants lower limbs touch a surface at one pound, and afterwards, one pound one ounce or two pounds, and so on, until the occupant may walk with little or no assistance. During a portion of this course of procedure, the opposite unit could be occupied by a more vigorous occupant in order to keep the device in motion. In this instance, the compression spring means would be set so that the occupants lower limbs would make heavier contact with the surface. From the foregoing description, it can be seen that a similar course of procedure may be applied, either with the Wheel element contact or occupant contact.

It is obvious from the foregoing description, that occupants could break contact by jumping motion, or that occupants could cause unit elements to break contact with a surface by body movements.

Although I have illustrated specific carrying units, it is obvious that any suitable or conventional carrying units may be used instead of the carrying units I have shown and described.

I have illustrated only two carrying units, but there may be any suitable number of carrying units.

It is obvious that there may be various modifications of my invention, and therefore, I do not limit myself to the exact construction I have set forth.

I claim:

1. A roundabout comprising central supporting means adapted for supporting an assembly for rotation, said assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending members having their inner ends pivotally connected to a central rotatable support, each radially extending member having a propelling member attached to a carrying unit adjacent its outer end, the propelling member having means for being set in motion by the physical effort of the occupant of the carrying unit, each carrying unit suspended over a track because of pressure from compression spring means slidably mounted adjacent the inner end of each radially extending member between the radially extending member and central rotatable support of said assembly so that the degree of contact with said track of said carrying units when occupied may be increased when-said compression spring means is moved inwardly and decreased when moved outwardly.

2. A roundabout comprising central supporting means adapted for supporting an assembly for rotation, said assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending members having their inner ends pivotally connected to a central rotatable support, each radially extending member having a propelling member attached to a carrying unit adjacent its outer end, the propelling member having means for being set in motion by the physical effort of the occupantof the carrying unit, each carrying unit suspended over a track because of pressure from compression spring means slidably mounted adjacent the inner end of each radially extending member between the radially extending member and central rotatable support of said assembly so that the degree of contact with said track of said carrying units when occupied may be increased when said compression spring means is moved inwardly and decreased when moved outwardly, the position where said compression spring means may be set being adjacent a scaled surface, said scaled surface being disposed longitudinally of the radially extending member and adjacent said compression spring means.

3. A roundabout comprising central supporting means adapted for supporting an assembly for rotation, said assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending members having their inner ends pivotally connected to a central rotatable support, each radially extending member having :1 propelling member attached to a carrying unit adjacent its outer end, the propelling member having means for being set in motion by the physical effort of the occupant of the carrying unit, each carrying unit suspended over a track because of pressure from compression spring means slidably mounted adjacent the inner end of each radially extending member between the radially extending member and central rotatable support of said assembly so that the degree of contact with said track of said carrying units when occupied may be increased when said compression spring means is moved inwardly and decreased when moved outwardly, raised construction in the path of said carrying units located on said track so that said carrying units may rise in flight from contact with said track upon contact with said raised construction after said carrying units have been set in motion.

4. A roundabout comprising central supporting means adapted for supporting an assembly for rotation, said assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending members having their inner ends pivotally connected to a central rotatable support, each radially extending member having means adjacent the outer end for substantially supporting an occupant so that the lower limbs of said occupant may contact a surface either with a light or heavy touch because of the action from compression spring means slidably mounted adjacent the inner end of each radially extending member between the radially extending member and central rotatable support of said assembly so that the degree of contact of each occupant with a surface may be decreased when said compression spring means is moved outwardly and increased when moved inwardly, the position where said compression spring means may be set being adjacent scaled surfaces, said scaled surfaces being disposed longitudinally of the radially extending member and adjacent said compression spring means for measuring, gauging and specific adjustment.

5. A roundabout comprising central supporting means adapted for supporting an assembly for rotation, said assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending members having their inner ends pivotally connected to a central rotatable support, each radially extending member having a propelling member attached to a carrying unit adjacent its outer end, the propelling member having means for being set in motion by the physical effort of the occupant of the carrying unit, each carrying unit suspended over a surface because of pressure from compression spring means slidably mounted adjacent the inner end of each radially extending member between said radially extending member and central rotatable support of said assembly, raised construction comprising a plurality of convex risers adapted for contact with said carrying units when said carrying units are occupied so that said carrying units may rise in flight from contact with said surface upon contact with said raised construction after said carrying units have been set in motion.

6. An occupant propelled roundabout comprising central supporting means adapted for supporting an assembly for rotation, said assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending members having their inner .ends pivotally connected to a central rotatable support, each radially extending member having means adjacent its outer end for substantially supporting an occupant so that the lower limbs of said occupant may contact a surface either with a light or heavy touch because of assistance from compression spring means slidably mounted adjacent the inner end of each radially extending member between said radially extending member and central rotatable support of said assembly so that the degree of contact of each occupant with a surface may be decreased when said compression spring means is moved outwardly and increased when moved inwardly, the position where said compression spring means may be set being ad jacent scaled surfaces, said scaled surfaces being disposed longitudinally of the radially extending member and adjacent said compression spring means for measuring, guaging and specific adjustment.

BENJAMIN E. NORVELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 475,256 Stutzman May 17, 1892 584,989 Davis June 22, 1897 605,629 Brannan June 14, 1898 1,384,215 Scott et a1. July 12, 1921 1,439,478 Maynes Dec. 19, 1922 2,206,750 Nove July 2, 1940 2,468,893 ()rance May 3, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,016 GreatBritain 1908 343,835 Great Britain Feb. 26, 1931 124,760 Austria Oct. 10, 1931 41,300 France Sept. 20, 1932 523,943 Great Britain July 25, 1940 

